the most magical moments here lately have been while taking long walks, usually (and preferably) on my own. whether it be early in the morning, mid-afternoon, or late at night - i've always really looked forward to clearing my mind and organizing my thoughts by aimlessly walking and admiring my surroundings. my go-to route in iowa city includes a detour through the ped mall to people watch, down along the river where i cross every bridge i see, and over to city park where i usually end up sitting in the shakespearean theatre for awhile before heading back. in dubuque, i love the routes through the forest of swiss valley, heritage trail lined with tall trees, and sometimes just simply along the gravel roads near my house.
but, in paris, it's another world. whenever i feel out of it, not myself in someway, or just simply nostalgic, i force myself to get up and take a walk which, naturally, always turns into hours and hours of getting lost along the seine and exploring which ever old street has the most provocative stone passageway or the most colorful storefront. this city seems so small sometimes, everything seems to be within eye-sight. 2 minutes from my apartment, there is a beautiful view of the sacre coeur in the distance and a view of the eiffel tower from the other side. if i keep walking i run into the tuileries gardens, the louvre, and the notre dame. but in general, everywhere i look there is some kind of artful masterpiece, beautiful garden, or mind-blowing cathedral.
walks of solitude, to me, really seem to be a healer of all wounds - for anything from a hangover to homesickness. i come back to myself when i am able to really lose myself in the beauty that surrounds me.

im going to normandy this weekend with some people from my program - really looking forward to it. but even more than that, i am unable to express how excited i am about my little sister coming to visit me in less then 2 weeks! when i think about it, the only thing that could make this experience better would be to share it with a loved one from home. i am so antsy to take her to my favorite walking spots and to share a bottle of wine with her in a local cafe, to dance the night away together in a foreign country. we will spend the last weekend of her visit in venice, italy where i hope to indulge in the best pizza in the world and get hit on by the best flirts in the world. plane ticket and hostel were booked last night - couldn't be more stoked!

writing has saved my soul here. studying abroad can be almost equally as intense and overwhelming as it can be beautiful and full of wonder and new-ness.

many sleepless nights
spent tonight listening to mix tapes and looking at fashion blogs

here are a couple of my favorites:
http://nzca-lines.com/#2178243/Mixtapes
http://ftbh.blogspot.com/

Settling into my life in Paris. This weekend was especially wonderful for me - a bit more relaxed maybe than many of my weekends here have been so far, but nonetheless, wonderful. I've been trying to surround myself with things I love, things that make me feel more at home while also stepping out of the box and trying to expand my horizons. Thursday night, I ventured to a less-seen area of the city to see a couple local Parisian bands play in the cave-like basement of a cafe. The musicians were experimental and played with large smiles on their faces. For the first time since I've been here, I felt like I had found a spot that was familiar to me - a crowded basement of captivated, music lovers, clear plastic cups filled with beer, and a magical late-night energy. 

The next day, a couple new friends and I went in search of a dance studio and found a part of the city which held the jackpot of thrift stores! Every street corner we passed, another one seemed to pop up and the clothes seemed to be getting cheaper and more beautiful by the minute. I was so overwhelmed with excitement that my hands literally shook as I ran my hands over gorgeous 30 euro fur coats and velvet skirts. After a couple hours of hopping from store to store, we stumbled upon a large building which blasted loud house music over large speakers. We walked into a large open room filled with young fashion designers and artists showing their latest work. A group of Dj's bobbed their head in the corner while beautiful, young people walked around wearing beautiful, unique clothes. It was places like this that made me want to go to Paris in the first place. My friend and I stayed all afternoon and then came back later that night to see a band play. I spent more money then I probably should have but tried not to feel guilty about it on account of I was supporting young artists/designers. 

Last night, I took my first dance class in a long time. I have no words to describe the way I feel physically and mentally when I dance. I took a hip-hop class in that same part of town that held the thrift stores and designer show (new favorite area in the city obviously). It was perfect. The minute the music started and we began to warm up, I felt as if I had never stopped. I'm beginning to realize how important it is for me to balance my life out with a physical activity that I am passionate about. Dance needs to be something that I continuously pursue in my life. 

Today was laid back. I went with my roommate this morning to see the famously beautiful view of Paris from the Sacre Couer  and it was just as wonderful as I had always imagined it would be. Since then, I've spent most of my Sunday afternoon in my bed - reading, doing French homework, watching re-runs of Sex and the City, napping, and skyping with my family. A perfect ending to a perfect weekend. 

The universe continues to send me the most amazing opportunities, lessons, and adventures - I am so thankful. xo